Wildscreen festival
Nairobi 2023

Building on the success of our 2022 Festival Hub and with support from BBC Studios Natural History Unit, we are launching a new, stand-alone 2-day Festival, in one of the most actively filmed parts of our natural world.

Celebrating and elevating the African Filmmaking industry.

30th June – 1st July 2023, Alliance Française, Nairobi

Why Nairobi?

Our Aims -

  • Celebrate the role of Kenya and Africa in the International Wildlife Film Industry 
  • Elevate African Storytellers within the Global Wildlife Storytelling Industry, increasing representation within creative and editorial roles
  • Support the pipeline of Indigenous Africa Storytelling Talent, providing Mentorship, Networking opportunities and demystifying the business of Wildlife Film
  • Capacity-build and create and support the growing Industry Infrastructure within Africa

Wildscreen Festival Nairobi 2023

The Wildscreen Festival Nairobi Programme will focused on 4 key elements:

Craft

Storytelling, Developing Techniques, Cinematography, Post-Production & Editing

Business

Networking, Collaborating, Co-Productions, Commissioning, Demystifying Distribution

Talent

Talent, EDI, Indigenous Communities

Huge nest in a tree created by sociable weaver birds - Namibia - Martin Harvey

Impact

Conservation, Biodiversity, Climate Change

Speakers

We have many outstanding speakers at this year's Wildscreen Festival Nairobi and many more still to be announced!

Our speakers tell important stories that need to be told.

Make sure to follow us on our social accounts to hear all new speakers announcements first.

Jahawi Bertolli (Host)
Kartiki Gonsalves
Dr Paula Kahumbu
Faith Museumbi
Janet Vissering
Jonny Keeling
Peter Ndung'u
Caroline Cox

Wild Pitch

Applications now open!
 
Six filmmakers will have 3 minutes to pitch their wildlife project to a jury of leading international commissioners and senior executives live on stage. Following a 3-minute pitch, the pitchees will get immediate feedback from the judges. The judges will choose the top three projects, which will walkaway with a prize fund totalling $19,000.
 
Application Deadline: Monday 12th June
 
Wild Pitch is open to new or established filmmakers born or living in Africa and projects can be submitted in either English or Kiswahili. 
 

Wild Pitch is kindly made possible by National Geographic. 

Bursaries

 
Application Deadline: 

Meet our Festival Advisory Board

The festival is being curated by representatives from the global natural history film and TV industry, conservation organisations and African wildlife storytellers.

Asif Choudhury

Deputy Permanent Representative to UNEP and UN Habitat – British High Commission, Nairobi

Caroline Cox

Production Executive – BBC Studios Natural History Unit

Chloe Sarosh

Executive Producer – Wildstar Films Ltd

Fiona Tande

Founder, Director – Pridelands Wildlife Film Festival

Janet Han Vissering

SVP, Development & Production – National Geographic Channel

Jeff Wilson

Director – Silverback Films

Nashipae Orumoy

Director, Strategic Communications and Marketing – Africa Wildlife Foundation

Michael Masheti 

Production and Liaison Officer – Kenya Film Commission

Dr Paula Kahumbu

CEO – WildlifeDirect

Pauline Kyalo

Assistant Film Producer – WildlifeDirect

Richard Madeley

Head of Sustainability – VI Rental

Sreya Biswas

Head of Natural History, BBC Commissioning – BBC Studios Natural History Unit

Volunteering

Volunteering applications now open for Wildscreen Festival Nairobi! 
 
We’re looking for friendly, enthusiastic and committed individuals to join the Wildscreen team to help to deliver the event. 
 

As a Wildscreen Festival Nairobi volunteer, you’ll gain hands-on event experience, develop news skills and meet people working in natural world storytelling. 

As a thank you for volunteering, you will receive:

  • A letter of reference
  • A free ticket to the alternative day of the Festival that they are not volunteering on
  • A Wildscreen Festival Nairobi branded t-shirt 
  • In-person volunteers will receive 1 meal per shift (Day Shift) 
Deadline to apply: Thursday 1st June, 12 EAT

Programme suggestion box

We would love to hear from you! Alongside our fantastic Festival Advisory Board, we are welcoming suggestions from our creative audience for content that you would like to see and experience at our festival.

Please complete this short form here to share your programme content ideas! 

Festival Partners

Headline Sponsor:

Sponsors:

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Session Sponsors:

Partners:

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